Manufacturer

Psycho Fox

Born in 1989

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SEGA

With Tails & Fox McCloud it seems that foxes in videogames are pretty standard fare, but back in 1989 Sega paved the way for these bushy-tailed vermin with Psycho Fox!

Unlike his real-life counterparts, this fox doesn't spend his time going through the bins looking for food but instead has been sent to overthrow the evil Madfox DaimyojinDarren Browne

This was the first game I ever played on the Master System and after growing up on Spectrum games this was a whole new world - no loading times and the graphics were so bright and colourful and with no colour clash it was like watching a cartoon, especially with some of the animations if you tried to run back to a ledge.

This was also the first game I ever completed and considering how tough the game was to get through I must admit to feeling just a tad cheated by the ending! Unlike his real-life counterparts, this fox doesn't spend his time going through the bins looking for food but instead has been sent to overthrow the evil Madfox Daimyojin who has taken over and corrupted the land. The game is a side-scrolling platformer set over 7 stages with 3 rounds per stage and a boss to defeat at the end of each stage.

In each level are eggs which when cracked open reveal items (not sure what creature is able to lay these eggs!), the most important item being Pyscho Sticks which allow Pyscho Fox to transform into a hippo, monkey or tiger, each with their own unique ability; the hippo can break walls, the monkey has a higher jump and the tiger is faster and getting through each leve requires you to choose the best character for the job. Also contained in the eggs is an ally called Bird Fly - once found he sits on your shoulder and you can throw him at enemies and take a hit without dying. If you find a bag of money this allows you to play a bonus round where you bet the money on 1 of 4 lanes, 3 of which lead to items and one to nothing. A tough game, sometimes unforgiving but still very playable.

A few years later the game got a 16-bit makeover and was released for the Megadrive in Japan under the title of Magical Hat's Flying Turbo Adventure and then re-designed and released as Decap Attack in the US & Europe where it was given a duller colour scheme and easier skill level.